From the Field

Chiller Systems Group Convenes for Annual Meeting The Chiller Systems Group held its annual meeting March 21-23 at the JW Marriott Union Square in downtown San Francisco. The meeting was hosted by American Chiller Service and was attended by over 140 members, vendor partners and guests representing independent chiller service contractors from all over the world including new members Colonial Webb from Richmond, VA, and U.S. Chiller Services from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Chiller Systems Group is a network of independent contractors throughout the U.S. and Canada dedicated to knowledge sharing and training to provide building owners the highest level of chiller service. The Group works with chiller manufacturers to provide members technical training and information in a timely manner. Meetings are held annually to exchange technical data, best practices, and stay current on manufacturer and supplier capabilities. In addition to the annual meetings and training, members share technical information daily through an e-mail user group. The Group is comprised of 48 independent contractors who specialize in chiller systems service, with its members performing service annually on over 10,000 chillers.

The Control Systems Group also held its annual meeting at this time. This is a network of independent contractors throughout the U.S. dedicated to knowledge sharing and training, to provide building owners the highest level of controls systems service to facilitate technology sharing and best practices for building automation systems within the Chiller Systems Group. The meeting included highly technical roundtable discussions on BACNet integration, Chiller systems integration and optimization, Chiller control retrofits, Niagra (Tridium) framework utilization, Translator implementation, and installation best practices.

A roundtable discussion was dedicated to the security and fire protection side of the controls industry and the benefits and risks associated with those aspects of the business.

HVAC, Inc. Named ‘Subcontractor of the Year’ by AGC Branch HVAC, Inc., Bristol, TN, has been named 2011 Subcontractor of the Year by the Tri-Cities Branch of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

The announcement was made at the 20th Annual Tri-Cities AGC Excellence Awards in March, where the organization and its more than 200 members honor outstanding associates and their work.

HVAC, Inc. President Keith Rhymer, a 17-year veteran of the company in his first year as president, credits the hard work of HVAC’s more than one hundred employees.

“This is a great achievement for HVAC, Inc. and all of our employees,” Rhymer said. “This award is voted on by general contractors and suppliers who are members of the Tri-City AGC. Every employee should be extremely proud of this achievement.”

Other finalists for subcontractor of the year included Chris Mullins Company and Kingsport Armature & Electric Co., Inc., both of Kingsport, and Woods Paint Company, Inc. of Bristol.

HVAC, Inc. is celebrating 25 years as a premier specialty contractor.hvacbristol.com

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT! Johnson Controls has released In-Home Selling Tool mobile apps for Apple and Android tablets, for Coleman dealers. The dealers must be participating in Johnson Controls’ Liberties Plus and Certified Comfort Expert programs. The apps are for all versions of the Apple iPad, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7-in. and Galaxy Taab 10.1-in and Motorola Xoom tablets. They contain information about the Coleman brand, and videos illustrating the capabilities of the Coleman Echelon residential communicating control. colemanhvacdealer.com

THIS MONTH IN CB HISTORY... 1999: This issue contained an article by Max Sherman on the first public review of ASHRAE Standard 62.2P, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings. It defined the role of and aminimum requirements for mechanical and natural ventilation systems and the building envelope, intended to provide acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ). Key categories in the Standard are Air Change Rates, ventilation system requirements, source control.

Winter is nearly gone. Hot weather is still in the distance. People are less apt to buy since homeowners who have made it this deep into winter without replacing their furnaces will do almost anything to stretch the product a few more weeks. What will you do?...More

What’s more thrilling as a business owner than bringing in a brand new customer? It’s proof that your company is good at what it does in multiple factors and should make a contracting business owner extremely proud of their marketing effort.